Pressure-fluid tool



e. H. GILMAN..

PRESSURE FLUID TOOL.

APPLICATION flLED Nov.13, 19m.

I E Witwgsses:

Patented Mar. 14, .1922.

- 'eorge H tys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. GILMAN, 0F CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 SULLIVANMACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

PRESSURE-FLUID TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented iwal', 14, 1922.

Application filed November 13, 1914. Serial No. 871,908.

To 'all whom t may concern:

Be it known that ll, (nonen H. GILMAN, citizen of the United States, anda resident of Claremont, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, have inventedan Improvement in Pressure-llluid rlools, of which the followingdescription, in .connection witlrthe accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representinglike parts. A

This invention relates to tool actuating apparatus, and is moreespecially concerned with a pressure fluid apparatus having specialapplication to rock drilling and mining purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved drilling apparatus,and more particularly to provide an improved handportable percussiverock drill of a type adapted for universal use, i. e., as a hand tool,`with a shell and cradle mounting, with suitable pneumatic or otherfeeding means lfor stopping, etc.; iu other words to provide au improveddrill adapted for use in any of the well known methods of drilling towhich hand-portable tools are applied.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the followingspecification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsof one specific embodiment thereofI` while its scope will be pointed outin the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan of a pressure fluid tool shown partially in horizontalsection;

l? ig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, on line 2--2 of Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view 0n line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking towardthe left.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of my invention which Ihave selected for illustration, l have there shown tool percussion meanscomprising a cylinder 4l, in which a piston 5 is mounted to reciprocate,which piston is controlled in its rcciprocations by a pressure fluidoperated distriluiting valve 6, similar to that forming the subjectmatter of United States Letters Patent, No. 627,703, to Thomas Officer,dated June 27, 1899, wherein there is shown a distributing valve havinga central spool which controls the admission of pressure Huid to. andthe exhaust from, opposite ends of the cylinder alternately, and whereinthe 4valve is in turn reciprocated by pressure fluid under the controlof the piston itself, the valve for this purpose being provided with twoend spools, against which the pressure fluid acts to throw the valve.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings,the valve chest isprovided with a pressure fluid intake 7, from which pressure fluid llowsinto an annular port 8 in a valve block or bushing, the latter hereincomprising two independent sections 9 and 10, mounted in a valve chest1l. Cushioning springs 12 and 13, bearing against the valve bushingsections 9 and 10 respectively, are held in place and suitably tensionedby a pair of tie rods 14 extending through the springs and through thevalve chest.

The distributing valve, when recprocated in the normal operation of themachine, causesv pressure fluid to be supplied from the port 8alternately to cylinder ports 15 and 16 leading to the front and rearends, respectively, of the cylinder 4, whereby the piston 5 isreciprocated in a wellknown manner. Under some circumstances, it may bedesirable to withhold effective power supply from the cylinder, or atleast one end thereof, in order to discontinue temporarily the operationof the tool percussion motor, and maintain the piston adjacent one endof its stroke. To this end, I have herein provided means for manuallycontrolling the operation of the distributing valve 6, such means hereincomprising a pin or plug 17, constituting what may be termed a pushbutton having an enlarged portion 18, mounted to slide in a recess 19provided in a boss 20, formed on and projecting inwardly from a bushing21, interposed between the spring 12 and the valve bushing section 9.The reduced portion 17 extends rearwardly through the spring 12 to apoint where it may be conveniently engaged by the thumb of the operatorand pushed inwardly. The inner end of the push button is provided with areduced portion 22', which extends through the axially perforated end ofthe boss 20 to a point where it may engage the adjacent end of the valve6, whereby the latter may be manually thrown to one end of its strokeand held there, thus causing pressure fluid to be supplied to the rearend of the cylinder, and the piston thereby held adjacent the forwardend of the stroke, while the pressure on the push button is continued.As a means for preventing the formation of an air cushion in the chamber19,whichmight pr'event the push button from being pushed forward, itsenlarged portion 18 is herein provided with a longi-l tudinal groove 23,constituting a vent.

The described tool percussion motor may percussively actuate a 'suitabletool for the character of the work to be performed, such for example asa drill-steel 24. This drillsteel might be directly connected to thepiston to be ireciprocated thereby, as is customaryinone general type ofrock drills, but for the purpose of the present invention, have shown atool of the hammer type, in which the drill-steel is provided with apolygonal shank 25 mounted in a chuck 26, and adapted to be struck bythe piston, the latter for that purpose being herein provided with apiston extension or hammer bar 27. This hammer bar extends from thecylinder proper kinto an axial bore 28 in the elongated front cylinderhead 29, and there is thus formed at the rear end ot the drillsteel achamber 30.

The chuck 26 is herein in the form of a sleeve-mounted to rotate in theelongated front cylinder head, and heldagainst axial motion by front andrear shoulders 8l and l 32 respectively, against which its front andrear ends abut. For convenience in assembling the parts, the frontcylinder head 29 is .provided with a removable iront section 33,'secured to the rear section by bolts 34.

I may employ any appropriate type of tool rotating motor, but for thepurpose oit illustration, I have selected a wellknown type of pressureliuid motor commercially known as the spire-motor, comprising a pair ofdouble helical, or herringbone rotors 35,

which are nothing more nor less than double helical, or herringbonegears, to which pressure fluid is applied at a port 36 midway betweentheir ends. It is well known that in percussive tools there is greatvibration and shock caused by the unbalancing action of thereciprocatory percussive piston. rlhis vibration and shock tends torapidly wear out moving parts of the apparatus which work in planessubstantially transverse to the line of piston travel. In supplying arotary motor to operate the drill steel, whether one or a plurality ofrotors be employed, the eiiiciency ofthe motor depends on the close titbetween the rotating means and the housing. ln the apparatus illustratedhave overcome theltendency o1 the vibration to produce undue wearbetween the rotating means and the housing by arranging the of therotating means typilied by the rotors 35 inthe saine direction as theaxis ot the piston 27.V The pressure iuid, on being admitted 'throughthe port 36v to the pocket or space at the center of the gears formed bythe teeth vof the latter, rotates the gears in vthe direction ot thearrows (Fig, l), and

'passing along the teeth of the gears toward 'S9 into the chamber 30. Aport 40, leading Jfrom this chamber directly to the atmosphere, permitsthe exhaust to be conducted directly to the atmosphere if desired, ormay be closed bythe thumb or finger of t-he operator. if a soliddrill-steel be employed, the port l() will naturally be allowed toremain open to permit the free escape oi' the exhaust; but if thedrill-steel be provided with a passage, such for example as the axialperforation 4l, the exhaust fluid may be conducted to the work for thepurpose of blowing away the cuttings. In the latter case, the port et()may still be allowed to remain open, if it should be found that theperforation in the drill-steel is not sufficient to carry away theexhaust without undue back pressure. lf the cuttings present an undueobstruction to the action oi? the drillsteel, the port 4() may be closedby the thumb or linger of the operator, and the entire exhaust compelledto flow into the drilled hole. It will now be apparent that there isprovided means available for conducting some or all ot the exhaustpressure fluid from the tool rotating motor to the work, and means forconducting some or all oi' the exhaust pressure Huid from the toolrotating motor by another course to the atmosphere.

As a means for throttling or entirely shutting oil' the supply ofpressure fluid to the tool rotating motor, l have herein provided avalve fl-.2, threaded into the front cylinder head and controlling thepressure supply passage et?) leadingfrom the port S to the port 3G. Thisvalve is herein provided with a suitable handle 4:4, whereby it may beconveniently turned for the purposes ot' adjustment, and is providedwith a locknut 45, engaged by a spring-pressed pin d6, whereby the valvemay be held in the desired position oitadjustment, without danger otsuch adjustment being deranged'by reason of the vibration to whichV itis subjected when in operation.

It will now `be apparent that l have provided means for' controlling thetool percussion means and tool rotating` means, and for causing eitherto operate to the vexclusion ot the other. ln other words, I haveprovided means at will to withhold effective power supply from' eithermotor, while still continuing to supply the other, and whereby theoperationfot the tool percussion motor may be discontinued and theoperation of the tool rotating motor regulated, or altogetherdiscontinued. these functions being accomplished by the use of the pushbutton 17 and valve 42.

, The tool rotating mot-oi` may be connected to the tool chuck by anysuitable means to rotate the latter, but I have herein shown the chuckprovided with a pair of splineways 4T to receive keys 48 carried by aworm gear 49, through which the chuck extends. This worm gear mesheswith a worm 50, herein formed on a worm shaft 5l, on which is alsoformed a pair of beveled bears 52, meshing with and driven by beveledpinions 53, formed integral with the rotors 35. By this means, a greatreduction in speed is obtained, and the rotation of the drill-steel isaccomplished independently of the operation of the tool percussionmotor.

In the normal operation of' the tool, the piston is reciprocated, anddelivers a rapid and continuous succession of blows on the inner end ofthe drill-steel, while the latter is rotated, and its cutting edgescontinually turned and presented at fresh points of engagement with therock, the speed of the rotation being variable by means of the valve 42.In case it becomes necessary to rotate the drill steel without havingthe piston reciprocate in its cylinder, it is necessary merely to pushforward the push button at the rear end of the valve. in order that thedistributing valve will be held in its eX- treme forward position. lViththe usual main throttle in its` open position, this action will causethe piston to be thrown -lorward against or adjacent the drill steel,and held there by the live pressure fluid which will be admitted to therear end of the cylinder; but at the same time, pressure fluid will beadmitted to the tool rotating motor,

Under some circumstances, it may be desirable to take a supply ofpressure fluid from the cylinder 4 to the chamber 30 to be conducted tothe hole being drilled. and for this purpose, I have herein shown thepiston extension or hammer bar as being provided with a longitudinalgroove 54, which at each stroke of the piston enters into the 'front endof the cylinder, and conducts pressure fluid therefrom to the chamber30. from whence it passes into the hollow drill-steel. This groove,however. may be omitted, if desired.

lVhile I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of myinvention, and have disclosed and discussed in detail the constructionand arrangement incidental to one specific application thereof, it is tobe understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere detailsor relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment hereinshown, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form oreinbodiment of the invention may be made, without departing from theprinciples thereof.

Having thus described my invent-ion. what I claim and desire by LettersPatent to procure is l. A hand-portable percussive rock drill of a typeadapted for universal use comprising, in combination, a casing, a drillsteel,k a chuck by which said drill steel is carried, said chuck beingrotatably mounted in said casing, a fluid pressure percussive motor insaid casing comprising a cylinder and a pis ton therein cooperating withsaid drill steel. a fluid pressure steel rotating motor carried by saidcasing and comprising a plurality of rotors having their axes parallelto the axis of said cylinder and piston, and gearing connecting saidrotating motor and chuck.

2. A hand-portable percussive rock drill of a type adapted for universaluse comprising, in combination, a casing, a hollow drill steel, a chuckby which said drill steel is carried, said chuck being rotatably mountedin said casing, a fluid pressure percussive motor in said casingcomprising a cylinder and a piston therein cooperating with said drillsteel, a fluid pressure steel rotating motor disposed within theoutlines of said casing and comprising a plurality of. rotors havingtheir axes parallel to the axis of said cylinder and piston, a gearcarried by at least one of said rotors, a gear yassociated with saidchuck, speed reducing transmission devices connecting said gears, andmeans for transmitting exhaust fluid 'from said steel rotating motor tosaid hollow steel larried in said chuck.

8. A percussive rock drill comprising, in combination, a casing, a drillsteel, a chuck by which said drill steel is carried, said chuck beingrotatably mounted in said cas` ing, a fluid pressure percussive motor insaid casing comprising a cylinder and a piston therein cooperating withsaid drill steel, a fluid pressure steel rotating motor in said casingand comprising a plurality of rotors having their axes parallel to theaxis of said cylinder and piston, said rotating motor be' ingoperatively connected with said chuck.k and separate devices forindependently controllingl the supply of pressure fluid to saidpercussive motor and rotating motor respectively.

4. A percussive rock drill comprising, in combination, a hollow drillsteel, a percussive motor cooperating therewith. means for controllingsaid percussive motor, a fluid pressure steel rotating motor, and meansindependent of said percussive motor controlling means for controllingthe exhaust of said rotating motor to cause a greater or less amountthereof to be discharged through said hollow drill steel or directly tothe atmosphere.

5. In a hand-portable precussive rock drill of a type adapted foruniversal use, the combination comprising means for simultancouslyrotating and hammering upon a drill steel comprising a drill steelrotating motor having intermeshingrotors rotatable cylinder, and asecond valve communicating with the chamber ttor controlling,` themotive fluidsuppl y to the rotation motor.

6. A hand-portable percussive rock drill oli a type adapted foruniversal use comprising, in combination, a percussive piston providedwith a'striking portion of less diameter, a casing` having` a cylinderformed therein in which said piston is reciprocable,

reduced hollov.7 portion adjacent said cylinder in which said strikingportion reciprocates, and a recess adjacent said reduced portion, achuck in said casing` in communication with said reduced hollow portion,a motor comprising a plurality of roto-rs in said recess, said recessbeing in communication vith said reduced hollow portion adjacent saidchuck,` said rotors having' their axes parallel to the axis o't saidcylinder', and means between said clruck and motor whereby the formermay be rotated by the latter.

7. A hand-portable percussive rock drill of a type adapted for universal`use comprising, in combination, a casing,` having a cylinder therein, avbore of reduced diameter communicating with said cylinder, and achamber adjacent said reduced portion, a piston reciprocahle in saidcylinder and having a portion of reduced diameter reciprocable in saidbore, a chuck in said casing', a recess to the rear of said chuck intowhich a drill steel may project when in operative position, a motorhaving intermeshing rotors rotatable on axes parallel to the bore ofsaid cylinder and located in said chamber, meansr for supplyingoperatino Huid to said rcylinder und to said motor, and meansconstitutingl an operative drivingr connection between said motor andsaid chuc1 y S. i hand-portable percussive'rock drill or' a typeradapted 'for universal use comprisinn', in combination, casing having acylinder therein, a here ot reduced diameter com? recess being` incommunication with said chamber and having means whereby a variablecommunication with the atmosphere may be provided, a motor havingintermeshing rotorsrotatable in said chamber, means ilor supplyinooperating` huid to said cylinder and to said motor, and meansconstitutingI an operative driving, connection between said motor andsaid chuck.

S). er hand-portable percussive rock drill ot a type adapted foruniversal use comprising, in combination, a casing,` having an enlargedcylinder therein, a reduced hollow portion adjacent said cylinder, and achamber adjacent said reduced portion and at one end of and partiallyin. front oit said cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder andprovided with a portion reciprocable in said reduced portion, a chuck insaid casing, a plural rotor motor rotatable on longitudinally disposedaxes and located in said recess, and means therebetween for rotatingsaidchuck by said motor, the forward end oli said casing forming a bearing`for the chuck and a casing for said last named means.

ln testimony whereof, have signed my name to 'this specification, inthepresence oi two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ll. GILMAN. lNi tnesses W. A. RICE, M. A. HENRY.

